vannessanoheart gets the dream job with the help of her 99designs portfolio

Vanessa (aka vanessanoheart) is a talented young print designer from Sacramento, California. She not only excels at book cover designs but also creates unique experimental print work that combines photography and experimental typography.

While she’s long been enthusiastic about graphic design, majoring in Media Arts at UCLA with a concentration in print design, it was her real-life client work on 99designs that help kickstart her professional career.

Recently, she landed a graphic design position at a prominent Sacramento-based publishing house, thanks in part to the professional portfolio she put together by participating on 99designs.

We sat down to chat with her about creative career so far and what interests her most about graphic design.

My style is based on strong images, good use of typography and graphical balance. I think any print design (posters books, packaging etc.), needs these elements in order to achieve a positive reaction from the viewer. I try to emulate these ideals in every design contest I enter.

I graduated in ’09, which was right in the middle of the U.S. recession; needless to say, it’s been difficult finding a permanent in-house design position.

I started using 99designs to help build my portfolio and earn money while I was job hunting. 99designs has helped me improve my skills while building positive client relationships.

What do you think is the most important part of the design process?

The absolute most important part of the design process is a strong concept. If the brief is clear and thorough, I think it’s very important to brainstorm ideas and establish a strong grasp of what the client wants and how to get there.

From that point on, it’s all about the creativity. My favorite part of the design process is creating the deliverable: a good concept with strong and fascinating imagery.

In your opinion, what are the key differences that separate great design from poor or mediocre design?

Great design is invisible design. Great designers are seamless in their craft. From kerning to spot coloring, every process is done perfectly and looks effortless. The invisible part is the part where great designers spend hours checking leading, font styles or correcting images to make the design seem like it was meant to look like that all along.

The designer hierarchy descends when you start to see these invisible elements show up in final designs. In the end, clients need to notice when a great designer comes around.

I absolutely factor emotional responses into my work. I feel it’s the greatest advantage as a print designer to be able to juxtapose type with images in a way that evokes a strong emotional response to the viewer.

The best way to go about it is to talk to your client and see if there’s a deeper message they may have missed. Semiotics is the next step.

What is a hobby that you enjoy doing outside of graphic design?

I enjoy discovering new music and visiting art museums for inspiration. I also love movies. Relationships I have with my family, friends and loved ones feed my design spirit and the occasional video games satisfies my competitive urge.

The author

Filip Reese works as a Community Liaison at 99designs in San Francisco. He earned a B.A. in International Relations with a minor in Spanish from the University of California, Davis and has spent time living, traveling, and studying in Europe, Asia, and South America. Filip is an active skateboarder, photographer and outdoorsmen. If hes not writing tweets or handling disputes you can probably find him at Potrero del Sol Skatepark.